Nigga: meaning, definitions and examples
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nigga
[ ˈnɪɡə ]
informal usage
The term 'nigga' is an informal variation of the racial slur 'nigger,' often used within African American vernacular. While it can denote camaraderie or endearment among friends in some contexts, its use remains highly controversial due to its historical ties to racism and oppression. The reception of the term largely depends on context, speaker, and audience. Many consider it a reclaimed term, while others firmly oppose its use regardless of intent.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- What's up, my nigga?
- He greeted his friends with a casual nigga.
- In some hip-hop lyrics, nigga is commonly used.
- They refer to each other as niggas in a friendly way.
- The term nigga is often debated in cultural discussions.
Translations
Translations of the word "nigga" in other languages:
🇵🇹 negro
- amigo
- parceiro
🇮🇳 काला
- दोस्त
- साथी
🇩🇪 Schwarze
- Freund
- Partner
🇮🇩 hitam
- teman
- mitra
🇺🇦 чорний
- друг
- партнер
🇵🇱 czarny
- przyjaciel
- partner
🇯🇵 黒人
- 友達
- パートナー
🇫🇷 noir
- ami
- partenaire
🇪🇸 negro
- amigo
- socio
🇹🇷 siyah
- arkadaş
- ortak
🇰🇷 흑인
- 친구
- 파트너
🇸🇦 أسود
- صديق
- شريك
🇨🇿 černý
- přítel
- partner
🇸🇰 čierny
- priateľ
- partner
🇨🇳 黑人
- 朋友
- 合作伙伴
🇸🇮 črnec
- prijatelj
- partner
🇮🇸 svartur
- vinur
- félagi
🇰🇿 қара
- дос
- серіктес
🇬🇪 შავი
- მეგობარი
- პარტნიორი
🇦🇿 qaranlıq
- dost
- tərəfdaş
🇲🇽 negro
- amigo
- socio
Etymology
The term 'nigga' originated as a variation of the racial slur 'nigger,' which has a long and painful history in the United States and elsewhere, often used to demean and dehumanize black people. 'Nigger' has its roots in the 16th century, deriving from the Latin word 'niger,' meaning black. In the early 20th century, there was a noticeable shift in how black communities began to reclaim and reappropriate the term, leading to the informal use of 'nigga' among some African Americans as a term of endearment or camaraderie. This reappropriation aims to strip the word of its historical weight and use it in a way that fosters solidarity. However, the term remains extremely contentious, and its acceptability is heavily debated within and outside of black communities. Ultimately, the use of 'nigga' is a reflection of complex social dynamics, cultural reclamation, and ongoing conversations about race and identity.